Padlock



Aug- 21, 1956 G. E. swANsoN 2,759,350

PADLocK Filed Dec. l6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l l5 F162 m .ZZv

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/N VEN TOR @UNA/AR gswA/vso/v 'l /4 @y 3 7 f4 ATTORNEY Allg 21, 1956 G. E. swANsoN 2,759,350

PADLOCK Filed Deo. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VEV United States Patent O PADLOCK Gunnar E. Swanson, Middletown, Conn.

Application December 16, 1954, Serial No. 475,631

6 Claims. (Cl. 7 0-38) The invention relates to a padlock and as to some of its aspects it is particularly applicable to a padlock of the character disclosed in my patent entitled Locking and Unlocking Mechanism for Cylinder Locks, No. 2,444,542, dated July 6, 1948.

One object of the invention is to provide a padlock having simple and reliable means for retaining the rotatable cylinder in place in the body, the said means having no exteriorly exposed parts and having a snap action upon assembly of the cylinder with the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simpliiied padlock construction wherein a single spring effects the aforesaid snap action and also serves to bias the cylinder downwardly or rotatively or both.

A further object of the invention is to provide a padlock having simple and reliable means for retaining the shackle in place in the body, the said means having no exposed parts at the side of the body.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and from the following description and claims.

In the drawings I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical central sectional view of a padlock embodying the invention with certain parts in intermediate positions of assembly, the shackle being out of its extended position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts fully assembled and also including a dotted line showing of the shackle in its locked position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but with the cylinder and certain other parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 7 is a face view of the shackle retainer before insertion. 1

Fig. 8 is a left edge view of the retainer shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the retainer shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing an alternative shackle retainer.

Fig. 11 is a left edge view of the retainer shown in Fig. l0.

Fig. l2 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the 2,759,350 Patented Aug. 2l, 1956 'ice cylinder in elevation and turned to unlock the shackle and showing the shackle in its unlocked position.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. l2, the cylinder being shown in elevation.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 16-16 of Fig. l2.

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 but showing some of the parts in different positions.

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing some of the parts in the same positions as in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 14 but showing the cylinder and the shackle in their locked positions, this view being taken along the line 19-19 of Fig. 2 except that the shackle is shown in its locked position.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, 10 is the body of a padlock embodying the invention. The body may advantageously be a unitary one-piece die casting, and with one exception all portions thereof are preformed during the casting operation. Said body has a preformed vertical generally cylindrical recess 12 for a cylinder, this recess being open at the bottom and partly closed at the top, and said body has a preformed vertical hole 14 for a shackle, this hole being open at the top and substantially closed 'at the bottom. The body 10 has been referred to as being in vertical position and for convenience of description such terms as vertical and horizontal will be used in describing other parts. These terms are intended to merely designate the relationship of parts and not to limit the scope of the invention.

A cylinder 16 is rotatable in the recess 12, the cylinder being retained in place and effecting its functions by means of associated parts to be more fully described. A U-shaped shackle 18 is provided which is hinged and also vertically movable. Said shackle has its hinge leg 20 entered in the hole 14, the locking leg 22 of the shackle being adapted to enter a hole 24 which is in the top of the body and which communicates with the cylinder recess 12. The said locking leg of the shackle has a notch 26 for receiving a portion of the cylinder 16 so as to be locked thereby as hereinafter explained. A shackle spring 28 of conventional form is provided between the end of the shackle leg and the bottom of the hole 14. The hinge leg 2t) of the shackle has an annular recess which provides an annular shoulder 30. ln Fig. l the shackle is shown somewhat below its fully extended position, and in Fig. 2 it is shown by full lines in its fully extended unlocked position and by dotted lines in its locked position.

Relative upward movement of the cylinder 16 in the recess 12 may be limited either by the top wall of the body or by a liange 32 near the bottom of the cylinder or by both. The flange 32 enters a preformed countersink 33 in the body 10. Relative rotative movement of the cylinder 16 is limited by a thicker portion 34 of the flange 32 which enters a preformed arcuate recess 36 in the body. Fig. 4 shows the portion 34 in the recess 36, the cylinder being in its locked position. The cylinder is turned counterclockwise from the Fig. 4 position to its unlocked position. The countersink 33 and the recess 36 in the body are suciently deep to permit limited upward movement of the cylinder beyond the normal level shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The cylinder 16 is provided with a conventional key slot 37 and with conventional transversely movable spring for adjustment or for key changes. With the cylinder `and associated parts in the positions shown in Fig. 2 and -With the shackle swung out ot' the way, a tool may be inserted through the hole 24 to move the retainer 48 toward its inner position. This withdraws the retainer from the groove or kerf 54 and permits the cylinder to be pushed downwardly by the spring 56. The stated possibility for cylinder removal does not interfere with the security provided by the lock, as the re-tainer 48 is completely inaccessible when the shackle is in its locked position.

It will be observed that a padlock embodying the present invention has considerable similarity to that disclosed in my said patent. The present invention, so far as it involves the cylinder and the parts directly associated therewith, relates more particularly to the retainer 48 and to the parts with which it engages. The retainer and its associated parts act automatically to hold or retain the cylinder as soon as it is fully assembled with the body. The cylinder is reliably held but there are no externally exposed parts.

The shackle and the functioning thereof have been fully described, but no mention has been made of the means for connecting the shackle with the body 10. This means is set forth and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 520,261, tiled July 6, 1955, as a division of this present application.

A shackle retainer 76 is provided which is shaped and adapted to tit the hereinafter described slot in the body 10. As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, this retainer is a vertical metal plate having in horizontal section ilat side sections '75, '78 and a central section Si) which is bowed toward the left. Short vertical slots 82, S2 near the top separate the central section from the edge sections. Preferably at least one of said side sections 78, 78 is provided near its bottom with a small bulge 83 which projects transversely toward the right as sho-wn in Fig. 8. As shown, both side sections are provided with the described bulges which are somewhat exaggerated for convenience of illustration. The central section 80 of the retainer 76 is provided at the front with a groove or depression 84 which extends transversely at a position near the bottoms of the slots 82, 82. The depression 84 weakens the said central section for assuring correct bending as hereinafter explained. The central section 80 of the retainer 76 is also provided above the bottom thereof with a resilient tongue 85 attached only a-t its top and biased laterally toward the right as shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the body is provided with a generally vertical slot 86 which extends upwardly from the bottom of the body and which is closely adjacent the shackle hole 14. In horizontal section the slot 86 has the same shape as the retainer 76, the slot being so located that a retainer in the slot will have the concave side of its bowed central section substantially coincident with the periphery of said hole 14. The slot and the hole are in communication at said concave side of the bowed portion of the former. Said slot 86 has its central section near its upper end provided with a transversely inclined sweep so that said section terminates in said hole 14, said transversely inclined portion being shown at 88 in Figs. l and 2. The slot S6 has the top of its side sections spaced from the bottom of the body by a distance equal to or slightly exceeding the length of the retainer 76. The inclined central portion of the slot is spaced from the bottom of the body by a distance less than the length of the retainer. The flat side sections of the slot extend above the level where the central section terminates in the hole.

For assembly, the shackle is positioned as shown in Fig. l, or in any position below its fully extended position. Then the retainer 76 is entered in the slot S6 and driven upwardly therein. Fig. l shows the retainer in an intermediate position. When the retainer is driven above the Fig. l position, side sections 78, 78 remain straight but the inclined portion S8 of the slot engages the central section of the retainer to deflect or bend it toward the right and into the hole 14, as shown in Fig. 2. The groove or depression 84 in the retainer facilitates the described proper bending thereof by the inclined portion 88 of the slot. The flat side sections 78, 78 of the retainer extend above the level where the central section 80 enters said hole 14. The portion S0 of the retainer, deected into the hole 14 as described, is above the shoulder 3) of the shackle, thus limiting upward movement of the shackle.

As the retainer is driven into the slot the bulges 83 are flattened, thus providing frictional resistance that tends to prevent downward movement of the retainer. It will be understood that said bulges are somewhat exaggerated in the drawing. The tongue 85, when provided, is initially ilexed toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 1, and it then snaps toward the right and into the hole 14 as shown in Fig. 2 so as lto engage the bottom of said hole and thus prevent relative downward movement.

Figs. 10 and l1 show a retainer 96 that can be used as an alternative to the retainer 76. The retainer 90 differs in the omission of the groove or depression 84 and of the tongue 85 which may not always be necessary.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a padlock, the combination of a body having a generally cylindrical vertical recess open at the bottom and also partly open at the top for receiving the locking leg of a shackle which recess is provided at one side with a vertical locking groove and is provided above its bottom with a circumferentially extending horizontal retaining groove, a cylinder rotatably movable in the recess between locked and unlocked positions, key controlled tumbler on the cylinder positioned to enter said locking groove for locking the cylinder in said locked position, means on 4said cylinder for engaging the locking leg of a shackle when the cylinder is in locked position, a retainer carried by said cylinder and movable relatively thereto between an inner position and an outer position wherein an outer portion of said retainer projects beyond the cylinder, said retainer having a portion with an inner face which is inclined upwardly and outwardly and said retainer being so spaced from the bottom of the cylinder trat its last said portion can project into said retaining groove when the cylinder is at a pre-established level in the recess, and a vertical coil spring positioned above the retainer and applying downward pressure which spring is so located that when the retainer is in its inner position said inclined face on said retainer engages one side of the spring with the result that downward pressure applied by the spring serves to bias the retainer for outward movement into the retaining groove where it is then confined so as to restrict downward movement of the cylinder while permitting rotative movement thereof.

2. In a padlock, the combination of a die-cast body having a preformed generally cylindrical vertical recess open at the bottom and also partly open at the top for receiving the locking leg of a shackle which recess is provided at one side with a preformed vertical locking groove and is also provided at one side with a preformed vertical groove extending upwardly above the level of the top of said locking groove, a cylinder rotatably movable in the recess between locked and unlocked positions, said cylinder being provided with a circumferentially extending kerf above the locking groove and intersecting the second said vertical groove so that the last said groove provides a detent space in the bottom of the kerf, a cylinder rotatably movable in the recess between locked and unlocked positions, key controlled tumblers on the cylinder positioned to enter said locking groove for locking the cylinder in said locked position, means on said cylinder for engaging the locking leg of a shackle when the cylinder is in locked position, a retainer carried by said was@ cylinder and ,spring biased for relative movement from inner position'to an outer position whereinfa .portion -of said retainer projects beyond'ltlhe cylinder .into said ker'f, .Sad retainer beine' so .spaced fichi the ,bottom ,of the cylinder lthat its last'said portion can project Tinto' lsaid kerfwhen the cylinder is at a pre-,established leviel Vin the recess and said'projecting portion ,of ,the yretainer' having a detent located to enter the detent 'space' said keit when the cylinder is in a lpredete'rmiried rotatiye pos on, and a spring for biasing the cylinder and the retainer downwardly so `that the detent of the retainer when entered in Vsaid detent space resists rotation `of the cylinder.

3` ln a padlock, the combination of body having a generally cylindrical vertical recess 4open at fthe bottom and also partly open at the top for receiving the lo:L ing leg of a shackle which recess is provided at l`alle side with vertical IQCkng groove and is provided ,above .its bottom with ya circum'ferentially ekten'ding horizontal retaining groove having a detent space in Vthe bottom thereof, a cylinder rotatably movable in the recess between iocked and unlocked positions, key controlled tumblers on bthe cylinder positioned to enter said `locking groove tor locking the cylinder in said locked position, means ,on said cylinder for engaging the locking leg of ta shackle when the cylinder is in locked position, a retainer carried by said cylinder and movable relatively thereto between an inner position and an outer position wherein a portion of said retainer projects beyond the cylinder, said retainer being so spaced from the bottom of the cylinder that its last said portion can project into said retaining groove when the cylinder is at a pre-established level in the recess and said projecting portion of the retainer having a detent located to enter said detent space in the retaining groove when the cylinder is in a predetermined rotative position, a vertical coil spring applying downward'pressure thereto so that the retainer when in its outer position is biased downwardly to enable its detent to resist rotation of the cylinder, and means causing said spring to also bias the retainer outwardly toward its said outer position and to hold it in its last said positionwhereby upon upward movement of the cylinder and retainer withinl the recess during assembly said portion of the retainer is snapped intol the retaining groove and is then confined therein to restrict downward movement of the cylinder while permitting rotative movement thereof.

4. In a padlock, the combination of a body having a generally cylindrical vertical recess open at the bottom and also partly open at the top for Ireceiving the locking leg of a shackle which recess is provided at one side with a vertical locking groove and is provided above its bottom with a circumferentia'lly extending horizontal retaining groove, a cylinder rotatably movable'inV the recess be? tween locked and unlocked positions, key controlled tumblers on the cylinder positioned to enter said locking groove for locking the cylinder'in said locked position, means on said cylinder for engaging the locking leg of a shackle when the cylinder is in locked position, aretainer carried by said cylinder vrand movable relatively thereto between an inner position and an outer position wherein a portion of said retainer projects beyond the cylinder, said retainer being so spaced from the bottom of the cylinder that its last said portion can project into said retaining groove when the cylinder is at a pre-established level in the recess, a vertical coil spring engaging the body and the cylinder for biasing the latter for rotative movement, and means causingsaid spring to also bias the retainer outwardly Atoward its saidrouter position and to hold it in its Ylast said position whereby upon -npward movement of the cylinder and retainer within the recess during assembly said portion of the retainer is snapped into the retaining groove and is then confined therein to restrict downward movement'of the cylinder while vpermitting rotative movement thereof. i f

5'. In a padlock, the combination of a body having a generally ycylindrical vertical recess `open at the bottom and Valso partly' open v,at the top for receiving the locking leg of asha'cklevfvhieh 'recess is yprovided at one side with a vertical leaking groove and is provided above its 120ttorrn with a circti'mferentially extending horizontal retaining lgroove having a detent space in bottom thereof, `a cylinder 'rotatably' movable in the recess between .locked and tinlolckedA positions, key controlled tumblers on the cylinder positioned to enter said locking groove for locking the lcylinder in said locked position, means on said cylinder vfor engaging lthe locking leg of a shackle when the cylinder is in locked position, a retainer carried by said Ycylinder `and movable relatively thereto between an inner position and ,an outer position wherein `a portion of said retainer projects beyond ,the cylinder, said retainer being so spaced from the bottom of the ycylinder that its last said portion can project into said retaining groove when the cylinder is at a pre-established level in the recess and said projecting portion of the retainer having a detent located to enter'the detent space in the retaining groove when the cylinder is -in a predetermined rotative position, a vertical coil spring engaging the body and the lcylinder `for biasing the cylinder for rotative movement, said spring also engaging said cylinder to apply downward pressure thereto s o that the I retainer when in its outer position is biased downwardly to enable its detent to resist rotative movement of the cylinder by said spring, and means lcausing said spring to also bias the retainer outwardly toward its said outer position and to hold it in its last said position whereby upon upward movement of the cylinder and retainer within the recess during assembly said portion of the retainer is snapped into the retaining groove and is then confined therein to restrict downward movement of the cylinder while permitting rotative movement thereof.

6, In a padlock, the combination of a body having a generally cylindrical vertical recess open at the bottom and also partly lopen at the top for receiving the locking leg of a shackle which recess is provided at one side with a vertical locking groove and is provided above its bottom with a circumferentially extending horizontal retaining groove having a detent space in the bottom thereof, la cylinder rotatably movable in the recess between locked and `unlocked positions, said cylinder having a cam face englageable by the leg of said shackle upon downward movement of the latter for rotatably moving said cylinder from its unlocked position toward its locked position, key controlled tumblers on the cylinder positioned to enter said locking groove for locking the cylinder in said locked position, means on said cylinder for engaging the locking leg ot said shackle when the cylinder is in locked position, a retainer carried by said cylinder and movable relatively thereto between an inner position and an outer position wherein a portion of said retainer projects beyond the cyiinder, said retainer being so spaced `from the bottom ot the cylinder that its last said portion can project into said retaining groove when the cylinder is at a pre-established level in the recess and said projecting portion of the retainer having a detent located to enter said detent space in the retaining groove when the cylinder is in its unlocked position, a vertical coil spring engaging the b Dly and the cylinder for biasing the cylinder for rotative movement from its unlocked position to its locked position,

l s aidrportion of the retainer is snapped into the retaining References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Soref June 25, 1929 10 Gahagan Dec. 11, 1934 Ledin Mar. 5, 1935 Fletcher Apr. 30, 1940 Voight Sept. 28, 1943 Dyson Dec. 28, 1948 Childs Oct. 12, 1954 

